Friday 3 August 2007

Some mileage!

Details of the arctic tern have just been received from the Swedish ringing office (see previous post).
It was ringed as a chick on 10th June 2002 on an island off the SW of Sweden (Skane province). So by my calculation, it will have made ten migration trips between Sweden and its Antarctic wintering grounds during the intervening five years, just failing to reach its nesting grounds on its fifth northwards migration of course. That's one heck of a lot of miles! (Arctics have probably the longest migration of any bird travelling right down to the Antarctic Ocean.....anyone like to work out about how many miles that might be?)
Hopefully it had raised enough young of its own during that time such that at least one is surviving and replacing the lost bird, thus keeping the population stable.
Nick B
Ps. Without checking, I seem to recall that the oldest arctic tern aged by its ring was about 30 years old, so that is an even more astonishing mileage. Remarkable birds indeed!
Pps. I should perhaps have pointed out that the red colouration showing on the photo of the tern's leg and foot is not blood. The legs and beak of arctic terns are blood red in colour and this is the remains of that pigmentation.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

My, that data came back quickly - I'm still waiting to here about a ringed great tit I found in mid-June.

Anonymous said...

Er... that should, of course, have been 'hear' not 'here'!

Anonymous said...

I did apply a little (very subtle) pressure Roger......
Nick

Anonymous said...

I've not seen or heard the peregrines for a couple of days. Assume they are still around doing what peregrines do!

The leg and skulls are a bit gruesome. I had never heard of a whimbrel but it is in all of my bird books (all two of them!) It's like a curlew but a bit smaller and I HAVE heard of a curlew.

An empty ledge is not quite so interesting to look at but I enjoy reading everything else on the site.

Keep up the good work!

Pam

Anonymous said...

Pax. Canada 6.43pm
Falcon asleep on the nest ledge

Anonymous said...

Clicked in to see happiness, a bird on the nest box, then, quick as a flash, he or she took off.

Anonymous said...

Pax. Canada 7.16pm
falcon has moved over to the right side of the nest box

Anonymous said...

Pax. Canada 9.30am
Has anyone looked at the RSPB video in the New Forest? the chicks are so cute, I was even lucky enough to see one of the parents feeding them. :-)

Anonymous said...

Pax. Canada 3.26pm
Falcon on the nest

Anonymous said...

Bird on the nestbox.

Anonymous said...

Discovered great video clips of both hobby and goshawk through the nesting season on the New Forest Gateway website at http://www.newforestgateway.org/Nestcam - well worth finding.

helenhoward said...

really facinating info. seems really sad though that the poor tern come to such a sad end but thats nature for you. as i have said b4 at least the pereguins dont kill for the sake of it unlike the human race!!

Anonymous said...

sunday 5th august 19.24 local time
lovely birdy on the nestbox.i think its the male,
been away for a couple of weeks and missed my daily fix so it's very nice to see one of my feathered friends on the webcam.
i've been catching up on the dairy inputs allday. i really must think about unpacking and putting the washer on now,

Anonymous said...

Bird on the nest box. A pleasure to see.

Anonymous said...

Male sat having a good look around and then took off.

Anonymous said...

23:19 Bird on the edge of the nest. Looks like some prey / 'stores' is visible in the corner on the right side of the nest. Bird seems to 'be looking over shoulder'? Perhaps its dad? (To Ed. Or is it more likely to be mum?)
23:24 Still there; Good night!
John A

Anonymous said...

Bird on the nest box, there does seem to be a rather large something or other on the righthand side of the box, as John noted above.

Anonymous said...

A visitor on the tray at 2:15am. The left hand camera has a focus error! Jennie, HK.

Anonymous said...

A bird on the nest box, and rather more than I would like :-) of the details of the poor stashed prey now clearly visible.

helenhoward said...

0627gmt and there is the delightful sight of one of the family having a good preen. like a number of the above i would be interested to see what is in the corner of the box!!

Anonymous said...

pax. Canada 11.40pm
bird on the nest guarding its prey

Anonymous said...

7.50 Looks like 'Dad' has had a big breakfast by the pile of feathers left. Great to see one of our peregrines again - it's been ages.

Anna, Ripley

Anonymous said...

just looked at the nest box, somebodys had a big dinner judging by the amount of feathers and bones left, not seen a peregrine for ages keep checking on the off chance i will see one but they have obviously been home and left the dishes.

Anonymous said...

Bird on the nest box, but just for a moment.